autos sport

Something tells me a new era has dawned for adolescent car-nuts like us; Chinese Tuning. Just saying “Chinese Tuning” makes a chill go up our spine! Honestly, we mean if we had so much fun with official, Chinese product, you can just begin to imagine what a party we’re going to have with pimped versions… Click “Read More…” below to check out a few more pictures of the tuned Brilliance BS6 with the ASMA Design twist in it.

Pics via: Chinacartimes

Technorati: Brilliance+BS6, China, Tuning, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

If it weren’t for Car Magazine’s scoop pictures, we’d seriously doubt Nissan’s intentions to build a long-wheelbase Qashqai (+200 mm) with an extra two “baby” seats in the rear. You could say of course, since Nissan’s French counterpart, Renault did it with the Scenic – Grande Scenic MPV models, why not. Car says that the LWB Qashqai will be primed to take on the Mitsubishi Outlander and its Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 spin-offs. We say, if that’s Nissan prime objective, why not do it with the 2008 X-Trail? Doesn’t that sound more logic? Our opinion is, either Nissan’s using the LWB Qashqai as a test mule for an all-new model (maybe an MPV?) either this version will be sold solely to specific Asian markets. -Continued below

Source: Car Magazine , Via: Autoblog.it

Technorati: Nissan+Qashqai, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

There are no details to as why Chevrolet decided to release a new set of images featuring the Camaro Convertible Concept that debuted at this year’s NAIAS Show, but we were more than happy to grab the opportunity and refresh our desktop wallpaper. -Follow the jump to see all the high-res pictures

Technorati: Chevrolet+Camaro+Convertible, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Are these guys’ nuts or what? Work of UK based H.R. Engineering that specializes in converting front wheel drive cars to rear wheel drive with any engine option, the heavily modified VW Golf Mk1 has been blessed with a 350bhp turbocharged, 1.3-liter motorbike engine from the Suzuki Hayabusa driving the rear wheels. It's not the first time we've seen something like this as some of you might remember the Smart Fortwo Diablo with the 180Hp Suzuki GSX-R 1000 motor. As you’ll hear for yourself in the videos that we added, if anything, the modified Golf sounds pretty damn sick. -Click “Read More…” for the videos

Via: Autoblog.it

Technorati: VW+Golf, Suzuki+Hayabusa, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

The one-piece Mi2 alloys feature a Bicolour finish, achieved by the inner hub painted black up to the polished rim and are available for both generations of MINI One, Cooper or Cooper S, hardtop or Convertible. AC Schnitzer offers the new Mi2 alloys in a size 7.5J x 18" offset 50, recommending owners to use tyres in size 215/35 R 18 or 205/40 R 18. We’re not so keen about their looks but if they tickle your styling senses just follow the jump below for more pictures.

Technorati: MINI, Tuning, AC+, Schnitzer, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Just in case you were wondering how the 2008 9-3 looks like in silver colour… Like we predicted yesterday, this “leak-game” will continue till next week when Saab takes the lid of its revised 9-3. There’s one more pic after the jump -I mean for those of you still interested.

Technorati: Saab+9-3, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

And when we say extremely rare, we mean it literally; there’s only one Koenigsegg CCXR in existence! Ouch? Um, not exactly because luckily, when the 1.018Hp bio-fuelled CCXR hit a highway cone on a right hand curve at 120mph (193 km/h) sending it spinning around like crazy before stopping in a ditch, Top Gear’s associate, peter Grunert was sitting in the co-drivers seat; the driver was no other than... one of Koenigsegg's own senior engineers! Ouch for him them. And to imagine that Koenigsegg sent that bloke to take over the responsibility of driving the CCXR (worth £606,000 / $1.2 million / €890.000) between photographic locations for Top Gear! Click here to go to Top Gear’s site to see all the details. Via: Autoblog.com

Autodelta has just released the full press pack of its most powerful interpretation of the Alfa GT up to date; the 405Hp GT 3.7 Super. We remind you that the British tuner teased us about the new GT last Friday, prior to the car’s public unveiling at the Spring Italian Car Day at the Brooklands Museum, UK.

In a nutshell, Autodelta increased the Alfa GT’s 3.2-litre engine’s capacity to 3,750cc revising or adding new components in the way like the new space-efficient Rotrex C38-81 centrifugal supercharger and the extensive cylinder head improvements. The 3.7-liter V6 boasts a maximum power of 405Hp at 6,800 rpm and 508 Nm (375 lb/ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm, enough to give the GT supercar-like performance figures: a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 4.9 seconds and a maximum speed of 293 km/h (182 mph). Comparatively, the stock GT Coupe V6’s top speed is 243 km/h while the 0-100 km/h time is 6.7 sec. -Check out all the details along with a high-res image gallery after the jump

Following the release of the updated 2008 Touareg back in January this year, German based, tuner Abt presented their revised versions of VW’s luxury SUV. The Abt Touareg stands out optically thanks to the full bodykit consisting of a front spoiler lip, side skirts, fender extensions, a rear wing, rear skirts and the 4-pipe exhaust system. Abt also equips the Touareg with 19, 20 or 22-inch alloys. Under the skin, Abt’s Touareg receives a revised suspension and brake system. For the moment, Abt offers three diesel and one petrol version, all of which come with a power increase: 2.5 TDI with 195hp (+21hp), 3.0 TDI with 270hp (+45hp), 5.0 V10 TDI with 360hp (+47hp) and finally the petrol 4.2 V8 with an output of 500hp (+150hp). -Continued below

Abt Touareg - facelift for the heavy weight from Kempten

2002, the Touareg marked Volkswagen’s powerful way into the field of SUVs. “Even for Abt, the car was absolutely new territory,“ explains Hans-Jürgen Abt. Back then, the managing director of Abt Sportsline did in fact have doubts about the market opportunities of the heavy weight: “But the SUV has become a great success, and meanwhile Touareg and Audi Q7 are among our success stories.”

Of course, one reason for this is the fact that the Allgäu-based tuners particularly stress the “S” in “SUV”. Abt has made the optically clearly improved version of the SUV from Wolfsburg also very sporty: at the moment, three diesel engines are available, and all of them come with a power increase. That is particularly obvious with the popular 3.0 TDI, which, in this version, delivers 270hp (199kW) instead of the serial 225hp (165kW) and 550Nm torque. The segment of elegant SUVs starts with the 2.5 TDI, which thanks to Abt delivers 195hp (serial version: 174hp) or 143kW (serial version: 128kW). The jewel is once more the Abt Touareg VS10, the ten-cylinder turbo diesel, which gains its enormous power of 360hp (265kW) from a five-litre engine. This engine perfectly harmonizes with the Abt Touareg. The V8, too, with its capacity of 4.2 litres is perfect for the powerful appearance of the SUV made in Kempten: instead of the serial 350hp (257kW), mighty 500hp (368kW) give the Abt VS8-R impressive drive.

The Abt Suspension, which is tailor made for the requirements of this extraordinary vehicle, guarantees that the enormous power potential of the Abt Touareg can be handled while driving. The comfortable air suspension with the innovative Abt Level Control (ALC) is also available for this version. Even in risky situations the Abt brake system bites with a firm grip and brings the car of 2.4 tons to a standstill.

Again, the Kempten-based tuners have designed an extravagant body kit for the SUV, just as they did for the first Touareg version: a front spoiler lip, side skirts, fender extensions, a rear wing, rear skirts and the 4-pipe exhaust system typical for Abt form a design unit, which makes the car look extremely dynamic from every angle. The Abt Touareg is far lower and broader than its serial twin, and that suits him perfectly. Even when the car is standing, you know that it feels at home on every terrain and that it will be able to deal with all challenges. Just right: the Abt AR-wheel with 19, 20 or 22 inches. The Abt Touareg is a power pack, an athlete in a tailor made suit; with this car, you are always adequately represented.

Technorati: VW+Touareg, Abt, Tuning, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Last September we broke the news to you that Kia was aiming to present four brand-new versions to its C-segment cee'd (3d, Station Wagon, Cabrio and GTi) all of which would go on sale in Europe between late 2007, early 2008. Yesterday, we managed to obtain specific info on the presentation and unveiling dates of the cee’d 3door, Cabriolet and 3door GTi (the SW has already been presented). The production versions of the pro cee’d (3d) & ex cee’d (Cabriolet) concepts will be unveiled at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September with sales starting in Europe in October. The 3door GTi, which from what we learnt will get a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 225Hp (!) and not 200 as previously thought, will make its debut at the Geneva Show in March 2008 with sales beginning in April.

Technorati: Kia+cee’d, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Confirming earlier reports this month the Board of Directors of ACEA announced that it has recommended accepting the application of Toyota Motor Europe (TME) to become a full member of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. For protocol reasons ACEA notes that, the formal decision will be taken June 8 at the ACEA general assembly with TME membership staring in January 2008. -Continued after the jump

Commenting on the decision, Sergio Marchionne, President of ACEA and CEO of Fiat said, “The ACEA members believe Toyota Motor Europe will make a valuable contribution to the work of our association. Europe needs a strong automobile industry. Gathering the main players in one industry body ensures effective communication with our key interlocutors in the EU on all issues of common interest, such as the environment, road safety, better regulation and improving the competitive strength of the European economy.”

The ACEA current members are: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, DaimlerChrysler, FIAT, Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Scania, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Technorati: ACEA, Toyota, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

VW tuning specialist Oettinger is offering two new upgrade kits for the anniversary Golf GTI “Edition 30”. €1.390 or $1.878 will get you the Stage I kit which boosts power from the stock 230Hp to 305Hp and a maximum torque figure of 400 Nm thanks to a new engine mapping which is loaded via Direct-Port-Tuning (Programming over the OBD-II port). Stage I GTI’s sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 sec (stock: DSG 6.6 sec, Manual 6,8 sec) and the acceleration doesn’t stop until it reaches 252 km/h (158 mph).-Continued below

If you deposit €3.450 or $4.661 Oettinger will be happy to install the Stage II kit that includes a larger intercooler, modified intake tract and a carbon “ram air” intake. In addition, the engine also releases its waste gases via an Oettinger stainless steel sport exhaust system; this highly polished system consists of a rear and middle silencer. The result is a maximum output of 330 hp (DIN), 430 Nm (317 lb/ft) torque, 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.9 sec and a Vmax of 258 km/h (161 mph).

Further accessories from the Oettinger OETTINGER Golf 5 program include:

• OETTINGER - Complete wheel set, consisting of: The new 19“ Type RXX 8.5J x 19“ mono block wheels and Pirelli/Dunlop 225/35/19 tyres: EUR 2,760.00

• OETTINGER - Adjustable stainless steel suspension: EUR 1,290.00, Fitment incl. alignment: EUR 400.00

• OETTINGER - Floor mats, set of 4 in various colours, with embroidery OETTINGER Logo: EUR 143.00

• OETTINGER - Body kit consisting of: Front grille, Front skirt, Side skirts and Rear skirt: from EUR 1,580.00

Technorati: Oettinger, VW+Golf+GTI, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007